Time-stamp



R. H. THOMPSON.

TIME STAMP. APP'uculoN HLED JULY 25, 1917.

' 1,393,410. Patented Oct. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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RUP 1 R. H. THOMPSON.

TIME STAMP.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25,1911.

1,393,410. Patented 00a 11, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. 'rnomrson, or BROOKIJNE, MASSACHUSETTS,

Application filed m 25,

T0 aZZwhom it may concern: Be'it known that 1, ROBERT H. THOMPSON, a citizen of. theUnited States, and a resident of Brookline, county of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented .anHImprovement in Time-Stamps, of which the following is a specification. a

My invention relates to time stamps and has more specific references to stamps in which the printing die is adapted to register its impression upon the top surface of the v none of the objectionable features of the previously described type of time stamp. The dial actuating, on clock mechanism, be-

article to be printed.

T ime stamps are usually constructed with a printing dial or die arranged on thetop of a base or anviland driven by clock mechanism arranged within the base. The article to receive the impression is adapted to be placed in an inverted position over the dial and then struck a blow with a plunger arranged over the dial for this purpose.

This relation of the printing dial to the article to be printed has several! bad features. The clock mechanism, being directly under the printing dial, is continually subjected tothe jars and vibrations resulting from'the severe blows impartedto the instrument in its operation and therefore is soon'rendered incapable of maintaining ac-, curate time. The force of theblow'necessary to print the impression of the die must be transmitted through the article to be printed and if the article is at all'bulky or heavy, the blow loses so much'of its strength that the resulting impression is weak and indefinite.

The necessity for inverting the articles to be printed, or'printing it blind, is an exceedingly bad' feature of such a device. It is necessary in-many cases, as in the printing of time cards, for instance, that the imprint of the -die be registered on a particular part of the paper or cardand when the paper must be reversed to register this imprint, it is exceedingly diflicult to locate the proper portion of the paper with -anydegree of accuracy and thisidilhculty is sopronounced that, with special cards, the backs of the cards are provided i with suitable markings to indicate the proper. point of the card over the 'die to register the imprint of the die on the proper part oftheobverseside of the card.

The various objectionableyfeatures of .a

time stamp having'a printingdie arranged TIME-STAMP.

Specification ofLetters Patent. Patented. Oct. 11, 1921,

1917. Serial No. 182,783.

ing'die is arranged over the anvilor base and-1n which the article to be printed 18 placed on the anvil and under the printing die 1n an upright position. The clock mechanism for this arrangement of printing die and anvil is arranged in a separate casing on the base of the stamp and operably con- :nected to the printing dial by suitable means.

An instrument as above described, has

ing disposed in a separate caseon the base anvil and printing dial, is subjected to none of the shocks and jars inseparable from the operation of the device. The printing die, being arranged above the'anvil, permits the article to receive the impression of the die to be placed on the anvil inlan'obverseposition and therefore the position of theimpression on the paper or article'can be adjudged with precision. The article, being placed directly on the anvil receives the impression directly on its top surface and therefore theimprint or blow necessary to register the impression is not transmitted through the article to the printing die and therefore a comparatively weak blow on the printing'head is sufficient to register a. sharp, clear-cut impression upon any article.

Time stamps have been heretofore conceived with the printing dial movably arranged above the anvil. The dial actuating of the instrument entirely separate from the a mechanism, in such instruments, have been electro-magnets adapted to be periodically energized by clock mechanismentirely separate from theinstrument, and the periodical operation of the magnets, usually occurring once a minute,serves to'actuate links and levers to advance the printing dial correspondingly. The intermittent operation of the apparatus is objectionable and the construction of the mechanism, 'made necessary by the method ofoperation, is such that the continual jarring of the instrument, in its use, causes the printing dial to move inde pendently ofits proper advancement due to the energization of the electramagnets. It is also advantageous, to provide the time stamp as a complete unit, that is, with clockmechanism, printing dial and anvil arranged on' onecommon base as with this unit'construction thef'failureof any clock to operate will incapacitate only its individual time stamp, and not a multitude of instruments as may occur if all the instruments in any office or factory are controlled from one common master clock.

Consequently the object of my invention is to provide a time stamp with a printing dial arranged above an anvil, whereby the imprint of the dial may be placed on the article in its obverse position; with clock mechanism arranged on the base of the instrument and entirely separate from the anvil or printing dial, whereby the mechanism will be subjected, to no operating shocks; and with means operably and positively connecting the clock mechanism with the printing dial whereby the dial is continuously moved to correspond with the hour and minute hands of the mechanism and whereby the shocks of operation will not cause an improper operation of the dial.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a time stamp embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the printing head.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the printing head with the printing dial removed.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the anvil along line 66 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view showing method of pivoting the printing arm to the frame.

As here shown the time stamp includes the base 10 in which is integrally formed the anvil 11 and a casing 12 in which is adapted to be disposed the clock mechanism. The printing arm 13, which terminates in the printing head 14, is pivoted in a slot in said casing 12 by screws 15 and the printing head carries a knob 16 which is adapted to be struck a blow to cause an impression to be recorded. The printing head14 contains the printing die and other associated mechanism hereafter to be described.

Arm 13 is normally maintained in an elevated position against a suitable part of casing 12 which serves as a stop by means of springs 17. The actuating, or clock, mechanism 18 is disposed as shown within casing 12 and is connected by means of suitable gearing 19 to the hands'of a clock dial disposed in the top of the said casing and more clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Casing 12 may have suitable openings therein for the insertion of a key to engage suitable shafts 20 and 21 of the clock mechanism by means of which said mecha nism may be wound and set. The printing die, located in the printing head 14 of arm 13, comprises a stationary die 22 on which are suitable clock numerals concentrically arranged thereon and said die has a recessed center portion in which is revolubly disposed an hour die 23 bearing the hour mark or arrow 24. concentrically arranged within said hour dies is a minute die 25 bearing a minute hand or arrow 26. The print ing portions of the stationary die and the hour and minute dies are disposed in the same plane, whereby the impression of all dies may be registered with one operation. The hour die is adapted to be driven from the shaft 25 of the minute die at the customary reduced rate by means of suitable reducing gearing 27. The stationary die 22 is arranged on, and the hour and minute dies 23 and 25 and the associated mechanism are supported by, a plate 28 secured between the sides of the printing head 14. The shaft 25 of the minute die has arranged on its upper end a beveled gear 29 which is adapted to mesh with a similar gear 30 secured on the end of a short shaft 31 which is supported in suitable bearings 32 of plate 28. One member of a universal joint 33 is secured to the end of said shaft 31, the other member of which is secured to a short shaft 34. The other end of said shaft is secured to one member of a second universal joint 35 the center of which is dis posed approximately in line with the center of the printing arm 13 and the other member of said universal joint is secured to a sleeve 36 which is slidably disposed on a shaft37 of the clock mechanism. Sleeve 36 has a slot 38 in which is disposed a pin 39 secured to said shaft 37 by means of which positive rotative connection is secured between said shaft 37 and the sleeve 30 which at the same time permits a relative sliding movement of said shaft and sleeve. The sliding sleeve and universal joints just described constitute a flexible and positive connection between the clock mechanism dis posed in the base of the instrument and the printing die disposed in the movable printing arm of the instrument above the anvil, whereby the continuous movement of the clock shaft 37 is faithfully and accurately reproduced in the minute die of the stamp regardless of any movement of the printing arm.

An ink tape 40 is adapted to be disposed over the face of the printing die and is wound upon two rolls 41 and 42 which are disposed in the printing head on opposite sides of the printing die. The shaft of these rolls are so disposed in the side walls of the printing head that they are securely maintained in position during the operation of the time stamp and yet are adapted for easy removal. Said shafts have knurled thumb .nuts number 43 and 44 secured on the ends thereof by means of which the rolls may be rotated to bring a fresh portion of the ink tape carried thereon over the face of the printing die. Suitable die wheels 45 are, or may be, disposed in the plate 28 at one 46' is, or may be, disposed on the other side of said printing die and said word-wheel has a thumb nut 47 secured to the end of its shaft whereby said Wheel may be rotated to move anyof the characters disposed thereon into printing relation with the ink tape. I l a A meridian. wheel48 bearing the letters A and P alternately disposed on its periplr eryiis located in the plate 28 to one side of other side of the the rinting die and a die bearing the letter is "disposed ontheplate 28 on the printing die opposite to said meridian wheel. Thecombinedimprint (if themeridian wheel and the M die together indicate the. medidian. The meridian wheel 48 is adapted to be operated once during every revolution of the hour die and for this purpose the nut of the hour die has secured therein a pin 49 which is adapted to engage a pin 50 secured in a projection of a slide 51 whereby said slide may be moved to actuate said wheel. Said slide 51 has formed therein a slot and disposed in its slot are two pins 52 and 53 which serve as guides whereby saidslide 51 is constrained to move in a straight line. Said slide is normally maintained against one of said pins 52, by the tractable spring 54. A spring projection 55 is secured to one side of the slide 51 and is adapted, upon movement of said slide in one direction, to engage suitable teeth of projections 56 on the die wheel 48 to move said die wheel to change the impression to be printed but to inoperably engage the teeth thereon in a movement of the slide in the opposite direction. In operation, the rotation of the hour die moves the pin 49 carried thereby into engagement with the pin 50 securedin slide 51 and causes said slide to be moved to the right, see Fig. 5,

against the tension of retractile spring 54 and to correspondingly move the spring 55 carried thereby away from engagement with the teeth on the meridian wheel 48. At the proper time, determined by the position of slide 51 with respect to the hour die and to the length of the pin 49, said pin 49 becomes disengaged from the pin 50 carried by said slide 51 and permits said slide to be drawn to its normal position by the retractile spring 54 and in its movement to said position the spring projection 55 secured thereon engages a tooth of the meridian wheel 48 and causes said wheel to be quickly moved to change its indication. Y

The anvil 11 of-the time stamp is provided with a removable platen which, as

here shown, comprises the metal base portion 57 suitably disposed in a groove inthe anvil. and which has a bent portion 58 by means of which said platen, may be removed byhand from the anvil. A resilient block ,meridian.

or 'pa-d 59 of rubber is securedto the top surface of said plate 57 and is adapted to receive the shock of impact when the instrument is operated. Said platen is made detachable from the base of the instrument whereby the platenv may be easily and cheaply renewed when it become worn.

I-claim: v l 1. A self-contained time. stamp having a base, an anvil carried thereby, clock mechanism on said base but substantially spaced from said anvil, a member attached to said base with capacity to be moved to and from said anvil to record an imprint, said member extending above said anvil, printing means carried by said member above said anvil and arranged to be moved by said clock mechanism to make a record when an impression is made, and a flexible rotative shafting constituting a continuously operative connection between said clock mechanism and said printing means to effect said movement from said clock mechanism.

2. A time stamp including a base, an anvil carried thereby, a clock mechanism arranged on said base remote from said anvil, an arm pivoted'to said base and extended above said anvil, a printing die carried by said arm above said anvil adapted to be rotated by-said ClOCk'lTlGCllfLIllSIB, said arm movable to and from saidanvil to record an imprint of'said printing die, a drive shaft connecting said printing die and a rotatable component of said clock mechanism for the rotation of said die by 'said clock mechanism, and a universal said shaft, whereby during a movement print of said printing die and drive said printing die in such flexed condition.

3. A time stamp including, a base, an anvil thereon, a casing on said base remote from said anvil, clock mechanism disposed within the casing, a clock shaft rotatable by said mechanism, a printing arm pivoted to the casing, a rotatable printing die carried by said printing arm above said anvil, a shaft journaled within said arm and operably connected with said printing die, a universal joint secured to said shaft, a sleeve slidably arranged on said clock shaft to be rotated thereby, a universal joint secured to said sleeve, and a drive shaft connecting said two universal joints, said arrangement forming a flexible driving connection between said printing die and clock mechanism for the continuous rotation of said printing die in any position of said printing arm.

4. A self-contained time stamp having a base, an anvil carried thereby, clock mechanism on said base but substantially spaced from said anvil, a member attached to said base with capacity to be moved to and from said anvil to record an imprint, said member extending above said anvil, printing means carried by said member above said anvil and arranged to be moved by said clock mechanism to make a record when an impression is made, and a flexible driving connection between said clock mechanism and said printing means and structurally distinct from said clock mechanism and said printing means, and adapted to be continuously moved by and in accordance with said clock mechanism, thereby to move said printing means.

5. A self-contained time stamp having a base, an anvil carried thereby, clock mechanism on said base but substantially spaced from said anvil, an arm pivoted to said base and adapted to be swung to and from said anvil to record an imprint, said arm extending above said anvil, a printing die carried by said arm above the anvil and arranged to be rotated by said clock mechanism to make a record when an impression is made, and a rotative shafting composed of a plurality of parts flexibly connected to each other and adapted to be relatively moved when said arm is moved thereby to rotate said printing die in accordance with the rotative movement.

6. A self-contained time stamp having a base, an anvil. carried thereby, clock mechanism on said base but substantially spaced from said anvil, an arm pivoted to said base and adapted to be swung to and from said anvil to record an imprint, said arm extending above said anvil, a printing die carried by said arm above said anvil and arranged to be rotated by said clock mechanism to make a record when an impression is made, and a wholly mechanical, continuous, rotative means flexibly connecting the clock mechanism and the printing die to rotate the latter in accordance with the movement of the former.

7 A self-contained time stamp having a base, an anvil carried thereby, clock mechanism on said base but substantially spaced from said anvil, a member attached to said base with capacity to be moved to and from said anvil to record an imprint, said member extending above said anvil, printing means carried by said member above said anvil and arranged to be moved by said clock mechanism to make a record when an impression is made, and a rotative shalting flexible both longitudinally and rotatively and constituting a continuously operative connection between said clock mechanism and said printing means to effect said move ment from said clock mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT H. THOMPSON.

Witnesses:

H. B. DAVIS, T. T. GREENWOOD. 

